New sign points motorists in the direction of recreation area

Paul Luthy of Chuck’s Signs of Cody installs a new billboard on the east side of Lovell reminding locals and tourists to visit Big Horn Lake.Patti Carpenter photo

A large billboard installed last week at the east end of town is intended to point motorists in the direction of Big Horn Lake in the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

“Over the past several years the Friends of Bighorn Lake has tried different advertising options to promote the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area,” said member Ken Grant. “We have had billboards along the freeway in Billings and at Rockvale in Montana. We have also purchased display ads in different publications.”

Grant said the group has been working with property owner Chad Carr on securing a lease agreement for the past year on the property where the billboard is now located.

“Once the lease was secured we were able to proceed with the construction,” said Grant. “Our goal was to have it up by Memorial Day weekend and we had it finished right on time.”

Grant said the purpose of the billboard is to remind locals of the wonderful recreation area and to make sure anyone traveling through Lovell will know about it, as well.

“We hope this will result in more visitors and more visitors means more economic boost for our local businesses,” said Grant.

Now that the billboard, which is made of a durable vinyl material, is finished, Grant said it is expected to last up to 10 years and there should be very little expense for its upkeep during that time.

Grant said the poles for the sign were donated by Rocky Mountain Power and Vision West in Powell donated the labor to design the billboard. Board member Lynn Richardson, a well-known photographer from Powell, donated the photo of the canyon that was used as the primary graphic on the sign.

Grant said the billboard would not have been possible without the generous support all those involved who donated their time and efforts to the project. He said even the sign maker, Craig Walker, of Chuck’s Signs, did some extra work outside of his original bid without charging extra for the work.

The sign can be seen on the east edge of town near the turn that takes motorists past the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area Visitors, pointing them in the general direction of the recreation area.